I teach Mandarin classes to early learners and their parents. We teach ages 5-18. We offer small hands-on classes that engage children with each other, allowing them to become familiar with the Mandarin tones connected with familiar everyday items. We use the simplified Chinese version, yet we expose the children to the written Chinese characters and Pinyin as well. We have been using My First Chinese Words from BetterChinese.com because my goal is really to prepare pre-immersion kids for eventual matriculation to immersion. I also use “Integrated Chinese” (https://www.cheng-tsui.com/browse/integrated-chinese-4th-edition) for middle school and high school learners that are ready. Amazon also carries these books. Some kids do ultimately move to the Zhongwen series, but it is mostly for students living in Chinese speaking homes. Initially, we begin with fruits, colors, shapes, animals, familiar daily household objects. We fully synchronize to what the kids are currently learning in their own natural progression. We try to create a varied, playful interactive atmosphere where Mandarin introduced is very natural and logical.
Ideally, children learn faster when they have a chance to be immersed in a language. Unlike many other Chinese language schools in this area, most of our students do not come from homes where Chinese is spoken. If it is, it’s not spoken much. Since Mandarin is a major 21st Century language of commerce and human affairs, basic exposure lets students become relaxed and familiar with the language, which will help them with later, more rigorous formal training, should they choose to do so. Learning any second language is a real benefit. When parents learn Chinese with their children, it makes practicing during the rest of the week much easier and results in more effective learning as well. While parent participation is not a necessity for good results–it simply adds to the mix. Parent encouragement is always key. We consider our approach “pre-immersion.” And indeed, many parents decide that being here in U.S. they prefer a middle ground, a non-full immersion approach because they want their students to acculturate better and avoid potential isolation.
For preschoolers and early readers we use varied texts and a varied lesson plan approach. We use the concepts of learning center and circle time. “Transfer learning” is a concept that recognizes that young students that study English and Mandarin…in the long-term are better able to learn German,
French and other languages. All learning is inter-related.
We also teach level 1-3 students, and have a migration path for them as well. I also teach middle and high school students. We tutor AP Chinese. One text we currently use is the Cengage Learning Asia series text, “Mastering Chinese Language and Culture” by Wang Shuang Shuang. We have also used the “Go! Chinese” text series by Julie Lo and Emily Yih. (see: http://www.cengageasia.com/). We continue to examine and explore new texts and new approaches, and opt for best practices…and best results. We are also now using the Cheng-Tsui “Integrated Chinese” (Levels 1 & 2) for Middle & High School students.(See: https://www.cheng-tsui.com/browse/integrated-chinese. Cheng-Tsui publishes a variety of texts.)
Our Process, Our Method:
We do have international students that we teach online. Yet our immediate approach is simple: We assemble small groups at the same skill level and keep them together for a full school year. We do an initial assessment of each student, usually via zoom. This way we can fit them into a group where all students can learn together. They become familiar with each other. We also do individual lessons, but most of our parents opt for small group lessons. Our method, unlike many of others, distills 4 themes per lesson, and we repeat, repeat, repeat. Memorization results from repetition. But we make it fun. Entertainment is not our priority.
ABOUT ME
My husband and I have two sons, ages 21 and 24. They work and also attend De Anza College. My blog entries are based on past class papers for Early Childhood/Child Dev. classes at De Anza or online. I have a managerial accounting degree from Shanghai University. But my passion is working with children. I love watching them develop new skills, singing songs, reading stories, playing in the classroom and doing circle time. I was born in Shanghai, and I teach a highly interactive Mandarin class for early learners and their parents. Favorite question: Can imagination travel faster than light?
BLOG: https://mandarinkids.blogspot.com/
CONTACT INFORMATION
[email protected]
(408) 733-1893
(408) 627-9460 (cell)
We are located in Sunnyvale, CA.